'Storm of protest' as Cambridge University defends animal testing

A visual stunt took place in which a giant mouse “injected” a a giant plastic syringe. Passionate activists wearing lab coats and lab masks held up placards, chanting and leafleting the public to raise awareness about International Animal Rights Day and AstraZeneca. A candle lit vigil followed.

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Animal rights activists said yesterday (August 9) that a Cambridge University tweet linking to the information "has given rise to a storm of protest amongst the animal protection community”.

Anti-vivisection group, Cambridge against AstraZeneca Planning (CAP), is currently setting up a "Twitter storm" in response to what they deem to be the university’s “flippant” attitude towards animals.

“It is shameful that Cambridge University continues to be a major user of animals in experiments. The use of animals in research is outdated and fundamentally flawed, failing to reliably predict potential human effects.

"Our universities should be championing modern research techniques not living in a cruel past.”

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Rachel Mathai, spokeswoman for CAP said: “We are shocked and saddened by Cambridge University’s flippant attitude towards their use of animals for experiments.

“The university casually justifies the fact that there has been an increase in animal research procedures over the last decade with their breeding of genetically-modified (GM) mice... GM mice are animals too.

“Tragically, they are bred to suffer a range of debilitating diseases and are regularly subjected to stressful, painful experiments.

“Whilst Cambridge University claim to be committed to high standards of animal welfare they admit that their procedures have the potential to cause the animal pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.

“It is also clear that a wide range of animals are needlessly experimented on – their website lists 'mice and zebrafish ... xenopus frogs, rats and sheep, as well as non-human primates, namely marmosets and macaques' as examples of animals they use..

“We urge Cambridge University to use its academic brilliance and move from inhumane, ineffective animal research to human-relevant research.”

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Sheep were used 148 times in 2016 and 155 times in 2013. Rats were experimented on 3,523 times last year down from 4,328 in 2013. Guinea pigs were used 56 times last year up from 31 in 2016.

A Cambridge University spokesman said: “We believe in being open about our animal research. We have been signatories of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research since 2014 and publish information on our activities, including species used and the number of procedures, on our website.

“Animal research plays an essential role in our understanding of health and disease and in the development of medical treatments.

“Without the use of animals, we would not have many of the modern medicines, antibiotics, vaccines and surgical techniques that we take for granted in both human and veterinary medicine.

“Although animals will play a role in biomedical research for the foreseeable future, we aim to use the minimum number possible. Our researchers are actively looking at ways to help refine their science and to reduce – and ultimately replace – the use of animals in research.

“We place good welfare at the centre of all our animal research and aim to meet the highest standards: good animal welfare and good science go hand-in-hand. Our research is scrutinised by the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body, who strive to reduce the number of animals used and help to promote a ‘culture of care’ within the university.”